| New York is arguably the premier city for American | | | | stature of its art collection is staggering, one of the |
| art; its variety of eclectic galleries always provides | | | | main reasons that MOMA has remained so important |
| something for the art lover, whether you're a fan of | | | | today is its intriguing architectural landscape. Since 1929, |
| impressionism or post-modern sculpture. Some of New | | | | the museum has shifted its location four times - three |
| York's most famous galleries are the Metropolitan | | | | of those in its first year - before moving to its present |
| Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney | | | | permanent home between 5th and 6th Avenue. |
| Museum of American Art and, perhaps most | | | | Between 2002 and 2004, MOMA was closed for |
| famously, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).MOMA | | | | renovation, while its building was designed and |
| first opened its doors in 1929 and has been the toast | | | | re-imagined by Yoshio Taniguchi. Taniguchi is the |
| of the modern art world ever since. The first New | | | | celebrated Japanese architect, also responsible for |
| York gallery to dedicate itself solely to modern art - | | | | Tokyo's Nagano Prefectural Museum and the Gallery |
| though it was closely followed by the opening of the | | | | of Horyuji Treasures at the Tokyo National |
| Guggenheim in 1936 - MOMA's first director, Alfred H. | | | | Museum.When MOMA re-opened in November 2004, |
| Barr Jr. soon realised the gallery's potential as an outlet | | | | Taniguchi's redesign was initially very controversial; |
| for new forms of modernist art. Barr commented:"This | | | | however, it has since been lauded as one of New |
| museum is a torpedo moving through time, its head the | | | | York's most interesting landmarks and upheld as a bold |
| ever-advancing present, its tail the ever-receding past | | | | example of contemporary architecture, making MOMA |
| of 50 to 100 years ago."Nearly 80 years on this still | | | | in itself a piece of art that visitors can enjoy. MOMA is |
| seems to be a very accurate summary of MOMA's | | | | certainly an essential point to visit when you're on a trip |
| ambitions and aims. Its current collection houses some | | | | to New York; its optimum location means that visitors |
| of the art world's most infamous pieces, including | | | | will find plenty of great hotels near the gallery, such as |
| works by iconic American painters Edward Hopper, | | | | the luxury Waldorf Astoria, through to other slightly less |
| Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol, as well as those | | | | lavish accomodation options for the budget conscious. |
| by celebrated international artists such as Vincent van | | | | So make sure you visit MOMA on your next trip to |
| Gogh, Salvador Dali and Frida Kahlo. Furthermore, its | | | | New York - your understanding of the American and |
| photography collection is one of the most important in | | | | international modern art world will never be the same |
| the world hosting works by important photographers | | | | again. |
| like Cindy Sherman and Andreas Gursky.While the | | | | |